Case Analysis

Human Resources at Scranton, Inc.

Based on your knowledge of HRM and the information provided in this case, help Jordan decide how to handle each issue that he uncovered in his evaluation of the human resource function at Scranton, Inc.

Jordan Jacobs sat at his desk relieved that he had finally completed the evaluation of HRM at Scranton, Inc., a fictional company. He had conducted an HR audit and discovered several factors that might be contributing to higher costs and lower profits. First, he found that absenteeism and turnover rates were higher than the industry average. Employee survey results suggested several reasons for the high absenteeism and turnover rates. Employees believed that their jobs made limited use of their skills. Also, he found that employees believed that the performance management system currently in place in the organization was of very poor quality. Performance evaluations were inconsistent across the company and rarely provided feedback that was of use to the employees. Last, he found that sales employees did not feel that coworkers were sharing knowledge that could be used to more quickly and effectively meet customer's needs. Jordan's feeling of relief now that he had completed the audit quickly disappeared. Although he knew the HRM function in his company needed significant improvement, he had no idea how to accomplish that to support the CEO's goal of moving toward a high-performance work system.

Based on the information presented in the case, what changes in employees' jobs should Jordan consider?

1. Outsource them because other companies are better at these jobs.

2. Review the jobs to see whether they are necessary.

3. Give the employees more work to do.

4. Determine whether the jobs can be redesigned to empower employees.

5. Restructure the job tasks so they are done more efficiently.

To improve knowledge sharing at Scranton, Inc., Jordan should ___________.

1. Reengineer the company's information system

2. Discourage managers from allowing employees to experiment with new ideas

3. Shift the focus of training from teaching skills toward a broader focus on generating knowledge

4. Develop a center for expertise

5. Encourage employees to recruit their friends

Which HRM practice should be changed based on Jordan's evaluation?

1. Labor relations

2. Compensation and benefits

3. Performance management

4. Staffing

5. Payroll

Moving forward, what should Jordan consider regarding the performance management process?

1. Ensure that employees receive feedback on how their performance relates to the company's performance goals.

2. Redesign it so that only quality is measured.

3. Pay employees more for good performance evaluations.

4. Let each department determine their own performance goals independent of the company goals.

5. Outsourcing it to another organization that can more effectively design it.

Why should Jordan be concerned about whether or not employees are satisfied?

1. Satisfied employees will want more flexible work schedules.

2. Satisfied employees will use more healthcare benefits.

3. Satisfied employees will more likely leave the company.

4. Satisfied employees will engage in more unethical behaviors.

5. Satisfied employees will likely perform better.